not within the jurisdiction of any one of the military services) will be a workable arrangement for the immediate future. But in this event, it is urged tht the "charter" of the agency explicitly provide for its independence as soon as its stature and achievements make this advisable. (c) It is explicitly advised that the National Space Establishment not be placed within the jurisdiction of any one of the three military services. There are many reasons, growing out of extensive professional experience, for this view. The military services are basically operating agencies, not research ones. The research talent of any branch of the military services is almost inevitably turned toward helping meet short term, limited objectives. Such a point-of-view would assure the failure of a National Space Establishment in its broad mission-which is truly a national one, far beyond the mission of any one of the services or of the Department of Defense taken as a whole. During the early phases of space research, it is evident that existing facilities and missile technology of the Department of Defense can make enormous contributions. The National Space Establishment must be set up in such a way that it enjoys the unqualified support of all three services, and not merely one of them. Such a situation is believed to be possible only if the N.S.E. is an independent agency from the outset or if it is directly responsible only to the Secretary of Defense during its early years—with the clear prospect of independence at the earliest possible date. (d) There must be clear channels for mutual cooperation between the proposed N.S.E. and all levels of the Department of Defense, in order to assure no jeopardy of short term, vital military need on the one hand and in order to assure maximum rate of advance of space research on the other. 5. Remarks on the Long Range Importance of Space Research It is already clear that international leadership hinges, to a very great extent, on preeminence in scientific and technological matters. Space research will contribute enormously to the educational, cultural, and intellectual character of the people of the United States and of the world. Indeed, the exploration and eventual habitation of outer space are the finest examples of the "Endless Frontier". It is for such bold endeavors that the highest motives of men should be invoked. There will be a rich and continuing harvest of important practical applications as the work proceeds. Some of these can already be foreseen-reliable short term and long term meteorological forecasts, with all the agricultural and commercial advantages that these imply; rapid, long range radio communications of great capacity and reliability; aids to navigation and to long range surveying; television relays; new medical and biological knowledge, etc. And these will be only the beginning. Many of these applications will be of military value; but their greater value will be to the civilian community at large. (To use a homely example, the telephone is certainly a valuable military device, but its importance to the civilian population is vastly greater.) 6. Availability of the Rocket and Satellite Research Panel for Consultation and Participation The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel comprises a broad membership of persons of extensive experience in all aspects of the proposed program of outer space research. Its members are professionally dedicated to national leadership in this field. They offer their services, individually and collectively, in the conduct of the broad mission of the National Space Establishment. The Rocket and Satellite Research Panel Berning, W. W. Army Ballistics Research Laboratory Dow, W. G. Green, C. F. Greenberg, M. Jones, L. M. Kaplan, J. Kellogg, W. W. O'Day, M. D. University of Michigan Air Force Cambridge Research Center University of California Naval Research Laboratory University of Michigan Air Force Cambridge Research Center University of Michigan Army Signal Engineering Laboratory Army Ballistic Missile Agency |